2 x 10 gear set up, bad shifting habits...?

neilus

Hiya
Ive done about 800km on my Trance 1 and its been brilliant, except today i had that sinking feeling as the gears stopped shifting smoothly and started slipping. Urgh!!
I know when you run 3 x 9 or similar, you should never ride big chainring to big cog. Ive not used the small chainring for a while now, cos im really trying to get stronger, but will often run bigger chainring to big cog. Ive just assumed that as this set up has a tighter chain "line" for want of a better term, its not at damaging to the chain and cassette as it would be with a 3 x 8/9.
Now im not so sure...
Over to yous. Thanks!

oxoman

It could be just a case of cable stretch, have a look at YouTube clips if your not sure on what to do. Also check chain for damaged or stiff links etc.

neilus

Just had a closer look, the 50cm of exposed cable (between end of outer cable and nut on the shifter) is farked, 90% of it has come loose and unwound somehow leaving a few tiny strands of the cable to do the shifting. Id imagine thats got something to do with it...
Wierd, never seen that before. How does that happen?

paul.skibum

You probably hit something and/or it was a cheap cable and/or it was badly fitted.

No biggie - couple of quid for a new cable, fit it yourself just make sure you have shifted to the smallest cog and you pull the cable taught before tightening the retaining nut (especially for shimano). Shouldn't need to fiddle with anything else.

neilus

All good now, thanks guys. But about the shifting, is staying in the big front chainring and using all the cassette cogs a bad idea or is it generally ok?
Also while flicking through the gears, some shifts are silky smooth, others kinda "clunk" into place. I guess this is when the chain pins sit on the upper teeth of the cogs for a split second before falling into place. Is there anything you can do about that?

kajjal

If you have the largest chainring at the front and start shifting from smallest to largest chainring at the back as you get closer to largest rear chainring the shifting will become less smooth. This is due to the chain being offset at an angle rather than being straighter. On 2 x 10 shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If it is the rear chainrings you use the most then the cassette is worn and needs replacing, along with a new chain.

neilus

Surely you should be getting more than 800km out of a cassette?

The Rookie

Depends on
1/ Quality of the cassette
2/ The surface conditions were you ride, sand is a killer for example and 800km isn't then unusual.